Tahir
Hasanovic is a key member of Serbia’s business and political leadership. After
graduating from university as a physicist, Hasanovic was active in politics and
held prominent positions, such as being the last “youth foreign minister” of
the former Yugoslavia in 1989. In 1993, Hasanovic co-founded and was the first
secretary general of opposition party New Democracy, which was part of the
coalition that unseated Milosevic in October 2000. Hasanovic then oversaw all
appointments to government and state-owned industry posts. He built ties with
the Democratic Party leadership currently in opposition. As a result, Hasanovic
earned a reputation as one of the few individuals maintaining cordial relations
with both governing and opposition parties. Hasanovic withdrew from active
politics in 2003 and devotes himself full-time to business.
He founded
and developed successful local companies in several fields, including telecommunications
and security (sold to Securitas), and oversaw their sale to foreign investors.
He sat on the boards of two state-owned companies, Centrobanka and Serbia’s
Railway Company. Hasanovic actively participates in Serbia’s social scene, both
via private philanthropic endeavours and memberships of key social clubs and
investor associations. Significantly, Hasanovic led foreign relations for
Serbia’s Masonic Lodge (RGLS). He is also actively involved in efforts to
promote Serbia’s image abroad. He plays a leading role in Serbia’s branch of
the Trilateral Commission, as well as being executive director of the East-West
Bridge think tank.
